ANY OTHER BRIDES WITH PANIC/ANXIETY DISORDERS?

I was diagnosed at 13. I left school on medical independent study. I returned. I have walked out on jobs because of anxiety. It has gotten better for me as the years have gone on, I was able to attend school a couple of years ago without huge issues. I will get stomache aches and shakes. And just want to leave. My mother suffered for many years to the same extreme as you. I remember as a child going to the grocery store and being told what to do in case she had to leave the store. She would often not go to specific places unless she knew there was a restroom. For me now its mostly new places, the unknown for new experiences, meeting new people or things like that. I got a little anxiety just driving to our first pre-marital counseling session. Just because it made me nervous.

@meredith : every starbucks in the area has been told that if they give me cafine , I will go to the hospital and i will blame them! haha. I dont even eat chocolate anymore because it has cafine in it. and yea i cant drink either.

@Violet: THANK YOU FOR SAYING IT AND BEING HONEST!!! MY SYMPTOMS ARE THE SAME!! its horrible! i told my aunt as a gag/inside joke/serious bridal shower gift, she should get me some depends. Ive never had to use them but ive had times when i wish i had them. i know that sounds tmi and shamfull to most ppl but sometimes ur really freak the F out and have to crap...its just life.

DID YOU SEE BRIDESMAIDS? THAT SCENE WHERE SHE SH*TS IN THE STREET IN HER WEDDING DRESS PLAYS THROUGH MY HEAD ALL THE TIME. MY FH LAUGHED SO HARD BECAUSE HE KNEW THAT IT WAS A HUGE FEAR OF MINE AND WE BOTH RELATED AND WERE ABLE TO LAUGH AT IT, BUT NOW I FEAR IT lol.

@tasha: you just made me cry a little. Your mother sounds very much like me. And i am a mother myself, i have an 18 month old boy. I am so afraid of my children hating me for being this way. my little brother used to say he hated me because i would ruin outings by having panic attacks or being to afraid to go on rides with him or whatever it is. and I avoid anything that doesnt have a restroom. I dont want my kids to not be able to have fun and go to parties or theme parks because their mom is too affraid she'll crap her pants or have a panic attack.

I am dreading when my son is old enough to go to school and I have to get up and no matter what drive him to school every day wether i feel good or not.

I have lost jobs over this. I have lost friends I have basically lost my life over it...

I am going to try to go back to school next year and maybe that will open my world a little more and make me less afraid. the more you do the less the panic attacks become.

I have a milder version but can get a severe attack now and then (it's tied in with migraine headaches evidently as I usually get one after an attack). For me, I need to get away from people and just walk it off while doing deep breathing. It also helps having a friend"talk me down".

One other thing that works really well is scream therapy - sounds weird I know but if I am away from other ears an d I start to feel that tightness in my throat and chest I just let out a scream and not just a short one - I let 'er rip LOL! That tends to bring all that adrenaline to the surface and then the endorphins kick in which always makes me feel pretty good. You might try it once and see if that helps you too.

Hang in there cookie!

Your response brought tears to my eyes. Some people don't understand what this is like for the people who suffer. My ex-husband just thought I didn't want to work. I juat couldnt do it. I work better in low pressure and smaller groups. My neq trade has proven to work better for me. Its extremely rough and unfortunately its not really considered a disability. We didn't get to go out a lot and much of the things that you worry about having your children to miss out on. It did bother us as kids but I understand now. I'm pretty sure my daughter (9) has it too. She gets stomach aches a lot in situations that would raise anxiety levels.

I just decided that I need to get through it andgo back to school. I just kind of talked myself through it and did it.

Goodluck with everything : )

@tasha: i really appreciate your understanding and openness...sometimes this disorder can make us feel really alone and like we're the only ones. I just hope my kids dont resent me. and maybe ill get better by the time they know how to resent.

I never had a problem until about two years ago... but I started getting daily (sometimes twice daily) panic attacks- and it's the worst when people don't understand/believe you.

I just cling to my FH when it happens- and we count back down from 100 to 1 very slowly- sometimes I have to repeat some numbers but I get there.

As long as you are familiar with it and know who you can turn to (and maybe talk to them about it before the ceremony/reception) and explain to them how best it is to deal with it- then I think you'll be fine.

Like you said- distraction, distraction- and I think your own wedding might even be easier to do this at than you thought. There are lots of happy things that day that you can use your mind to hold onto.

Yes it can. I was worried about explaining it to my FH. I still feel bad because he has taken on me and my 3 children and I would love so much tp help financially. But I can't just go.out and get a "normal" job. I'm working on going back to school again to finish getting the few more certs I need so I can find a job here in my field.

@tasha: yea i cant work right now either. I cant have a customer sevice job or a job where they dont take care of their employees and let them go to the bathroom. I need a career type job where i am respected and can have sick days and use the bathroom when i need to.

Glad to see I'm not alone! My anxiety disorder stems from being in front of people which is ironic because I'm a teacher! Go figure! I already backed out of a wedding this year because I knew I couldn't walk down the aisle. People who don't understand anxiety were talking about me, saying I'm selfish, etc. Don't they know I'd LOVE to walk in my best friend's wedding?

So mine is coming up in June. Does anybody have any fun and creative ways to do a ceremony without the whole walking down the aisle while everyone stares at you? I don't want to be on Xanax during my wedding. As you all know, this disorder is real. I'm not ashamed of it and openly talk about it. I want to enjoy my wedding day.

Advice???

I know this is an older post; but was wondering how your any of your ceremonies went? I am having full on anxiety that I will have a panic attack and pass out at the altar and ruin my wedding. I have passed out as a BM before before even opening the doors. I don't think the walking part is what bothers me - its standing up there. I don't lock my knees or anything like that but I don't do well with large quiet crowds. Small tiny wedding or eloping is not an option - and quite frankly I don't want to do that just bc I am scared. I haven't had panic attacks in a long time, but I have been anxious a lot lately. Now I am getting to the point im getting depressed planning my wedding bc I am so fearful of what I will do at the ceremony. I am planning an outdoor wedding hoping that will take away from the fear of the SOOOO quiet crowd. Any thoughts?

@TheMrs. I am the same way. I have severe anxiety, was diagnosed at the age of 16. Has been under control the last 5 years with daily medication, and xanax as needed. Recently with just over 6 months until the wedding my anxiety and panic attacks are in full swing. Just the thought of being in front of people at the ceremony sets me off. I've been having panic attacks at least once a week and my fear is they will get worse as the wedding gets closer. I fear the day of the wedding as I know my stomach issues and anxiety will be out of control. Looking for advice from recent brides who suffer from GAD on how to cope with it and what works.

I also have GAD/ OCD its a struggle, was diagnosed at age 10. Most people don't understand what it's like to suffer with a mental illness or they hide away from this topic because they are afraid of people telling them it's all in their heads and or their crazy. I have been off and on medication for years because everytime I say "I can do this on my own if its all in my head" usually I am okay for about a year or so then fall back into the trap when major stress hits me. I finally accepted that if a pill a day is going to make my life easier while I live then why not. Diabetics need their meds, cancer patients need their meds.. Mental Health is also a serious disorder and if you have to help yourself with something don't be afraid to take control of the situation. I use to never tell people what I was going through, because I was afraid of being called crazy. I realized that in life their isnt a "normal person" whats normal for you is not always normal for someone else. I have been able to help people by being open about my anxiety sometimes people are just afraid of what others will think. You are not alone though their are many people out their who suffer in silence.

Prayer has helped me in so many ways. Drawing close to God brings some peace into my life which a person with anxiety issues needs. Much love to those who also suffer and sending virtual hugs

Hey ladies! (Original poster) I am amazed and happy to see thrat people are still sharing on this post.

So I was oddly calm until I had to come down stairs and wait in this room alone before the ceremony and with me...my anxiety is about being stuck and being expected and needed when I have no control over when my bowels might decide to act up or when I won't be able to meet expectations because ill have a panic attack and need to pause what we are doing. I paced back and forth in that room just about soiling my dress. Once I got to walk down the aisle though I was fine. I want to make it clear that I don't have a social anxiety disorder. Social anxiety and public speaking are very common but I do not have those fears. I have panic disorder so I mostly just panic about having symptoms. I panic about the panic that I'm assuming will occur. I also have IBS that's triggered by the attacks and attacks triggered by IBS (very common in women). So my fears may have been did than the fears you guys are experiencing now. But I made it through. I am not a year and 5 months into our marriage (together 7 years) and am 28weeks pregnant (second child...our son was 2 at our wedding) and I have beautiful Wedding pictures and it all went very smoothly.

Hi Lauren,

I am so happy to hear everything turned out ok! I am six weeks away from my wedding, and all of the things you talked about are what is going through my head. Mostly beginning to panic and become faint at the alter. I'm scared I'm going to feel that desperate need to get out. But, reading that you made it through really helps me. It's so hard because not many people understand - not even my counselor. So thank you for sharing!! And congratulations on your new little one.

Many thanks,

Kelly

Hi guys...I also suffer from GAD. Three weeks till my wedding and I have been experiencing panic attacks mostly at night. I can't really pin point why I start panicking, but it always ends with me worrying about not sleeping. Do you think it is bad for me to take xanax at night to sleep??